With the All-Star break being the halfway point in the MLB season it’s time to decide who is worthy of taking home the individual hardware. Be it MVP, Cy Young, Rookie, Manager or my newest one, best story. Lets see who wins the individual awards for the first half of 2009.

AL MVP: Justin Morneau 1B Minnesota Twins

NL MVP: Albert Pujols 1B St. Louis Cardinals

Close second in the AL goes to Angels CF Torii Hunter. What he has done in a lineup without Vladimir Guerrero for most of the year is amazing. Morneau though has been a constant force. Remember, he’s been doing this without Joe Mauer in the lineup for almost the whole first month of the season. .311 batting, 21 HR and 70 RBI. Those are the best all around numbers of any first baseman in the American League. The Twins would not be where they are in the standings without Morneau’s consistent bat. What else can I say about Pujols other than he is a threat for the triple crown. Again. .332, 32 HR and 87 RBI. Fourth, first, first respectively leading in those categories. Is there really anyone else?

AL Cy Young: Zack Greinke Kansas City Royals

NL Cy Young: Tim Lincecum San Francisco Giants

Both of these pitchers are going for the Triple Crown in their leagues. Greinke sports a league leading 2.12 ERA. Lincecum is second at 2.33. Greinke and Lincecum both have 10 wins. Greinke has 129 strikeouts to put him at third. Lincecum leads with 149 strikeouts. I could make a case for Roy Halladay in Toronto or Dan Haren in Arizona, but both have won this award until further notice.

AL Rookie: J.A. Happ Pitcher Philadelphia Phillies

NL Rookie: Andrew Bailey Pitcher Oakland Athletics

It was no fluke that Bailey was selected to the All-Star game. Well, part of it was the Selig rule that every team must be represented, but aside from that this kid has put up some impressive numbers. In 39 relief appearances he has struck out 60 batters in just over 52 innings pitched. A WHIP under 1.00 and an ERA at 1.92. Oh and also getting 10 saves. Not bad considering the state the A’s are in now. Happ is a good story and has backed it up with solid outings. A perfect record of 6-0 while starting the season in the bullpen, but later put back in the rotation to stay. With an ERA of 2.90 and a WHIP under 1.20 while playing in Philadelphia is very impressive. Colby Rasmus of St. Louis deserves some consideration, but I award it to a Phillie.

AL Manager: Jim Leyland Detroit Tigers

NL Manager: Ken Macha Milwaukee Brewers

Now there were a lot of choices in the American League. Especially in the AL West with Ron Washington, Don Wakamatsu and Mike Scioscia. But who had the Tigers in first place at the half way point. No one, so put your hands down. The Tigers were predicted in a lot of circles to finish last in the Central. The bats are back to life and the pitching has not thrown them out of games. Jim gets all the credit for this turnaround. Macha is the only winner at this point in the NL. I expected the Brew Crew to hit their way to the top, but the pitching has turned from a weakness to a strength. Granted they haven’t had any debilitating injuries, but like with the Tigers who thought the pitching would help. Trevor Hoffman was not a bad pickup for that bullpen.

Best Story: Angels

Not only losing a teammate, but with the injuries mounting up and the inconsistent bullpen which was a strength, they enter the break in first place. Scioscia would be a good pick for manager of the year, but he gets credit for best story. This team was written off when Vlad went down, but Torii Hunter and Juan Rivera stepped up. Chone Figgins is having a career year with Jered Weaver leading the starting staff in wins with 10. The bullpen struggled mightily in the first two months, but has turned it around thanks to Brian Fuentes leading the majors with 26 saves. This is one of many good stories this season, but this has been playing out since the season started.